AUTONET TV

Charge It in Bushwood for Extended Battery Life

Here's an interesting statistic for our in Bushwood, Maryland, drivers: Only 30 percent of car batteries make it to 48 months. And the life expectancy varies by where you live. It ranges from 51 months in extremely cold areas to just 30 months in extremely hot climates.

Why is that? It turns out that it's our modern cars with all their electric accessories that are to blame. Things like, GPS, DVDs and entertainment computers are keeping vehicle batteries from maintaining a full charge. The longer a battery goes with a low charge, the sooner it'll die.

It's clear that you Bushwood drivers need to recharge your batteries. This is the job of the alternator. The problem comes when the car's demand for electricity is high and we are driving in stop and go conditions or short trips around Bushwood. The alternator just can't keep up.

The result is shortened battery life. So what can we do to improve our battery's health?

We need to keep the battery as close to a full charge as possible. That can be hard because sitting for just 24 hours in hot weather between charges can be too long. When the weather's cold in Bushwood, sitting for several days will cause discharge.

So some highway driving around Maryland will help keep a full charge if the battery has not been deeply depleted. Car batteries are not designed to be run down really low, or deep cycled, as it's called. So using your headlights or other power accessories when the car is off can deeply deplete your battery. Using the alternator to recharge from a deeply depleted state is also very dangerous to your battery because it charges too fast. In fact, on average, your battery would only last for ten recharges like that.

If you do find yourself with a dead battery or very low battery, use a good quality battery charger to slowly bring the battery up to full charge. Follow the instructions on the charger or talk to your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor at Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. .

Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.
22829 colton point rd
Bushwood, Maryland 20618
301-769-2400

Technician Training at Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.

Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. in Bushwood. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.

It's also very important to your Bushwood service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Bushwood auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.

Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Bushwood service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.

And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. technicians follow these procedures so they can safely deliver a consistent level of high-quality service.

Some services at Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. require the use of specialized equipment. Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. technicians are trained extensively on this equipment so that they can service your car quickly and efficiently.

Classroom, video and hands-on training is provided by the company and outside trainers. It's not only important that friendly and knowledgeable technicians be able to perform a given task, they also need to be thoroughly trained in inspection and diagnostic techniques. One of the great services they perform is to detect potential problems before they become serious.

The automotive service industry has standards for classifying and communicating problems. For example, it's one thing to learn that your manufacturer recommends that you change your serpentine belt every 30,000 miles/48,000 km and another to learn that the belt is on the verge of failure. These standards help you understand the urgency of recommendations, letting you make better automotive service decisions.

Maryland folks may be interested to know that service technicians (including those at Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.) are trained in compliance with federal and local Bushwood laws and regulations, including environmental regulations regarding the disposal of used parts and fluids.

It's the goal of Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. to provide fast, courteous service. You should feel free to ask your friendly and knowledgeable technician or one of the managers about your service or for more information about their recommendations.

At Hill's Auto Repair, Inc., well-trained service providers, established procedures, industry standards and, of course, great people, combine to give you the best auto service in Bushwood.

Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.
22829 colton point rd
Bushwood, Maryland 20618
301-769-2400

Introduction to Diesels for Bushwood, Maryland

Something you're going to be hearing a lot about around Bushwood, Maryland, is diesel engines. We're not talking about semi-trucks and buses; we're talking about diesel engine cars, pick-ups and SUVs.

Most people in Maryland are surprised to learn that around half the cars on the road in Europe have diesel engines. Nearly all import brands offer a range of diesel engines abroad – even the ultra-luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. For the most part, these diesel engines haven't been available in Bushwood, Maryland. But that's about to change.

In the past, North American diesel fuel has had a much higher sulfur content than European fuel. Recent environmental laws have required changes in diesel formulation and emissions standards here in Bushwood, Maryland, so we are now ready to start seeing more diesel options offered over the next few years.

Why are so many Bushwood drivers interested in diesel engines? Well first off, diesel fuel is more energy dense. There's more power in a barrel of diesel fuel than there is in a barrel of gasoline. The result? Better performance and improved fuel economy.

Diesel powered vehicles get about 20 percent better fuel economy. And as for power – why do you think that the majority of new heavy duty pick-up trucks are being sold in Bushwood with diesel engines?

If you think back to the late 1970's and early 1980's, you may shudder when you think of the diesel powered cars of the day – noisy, smoky, under-powered beasts that rattled and shook their passengers. Modern diesels sold in Maryland have evolved considerably.

They are quiet, clean – and powerful. They're so refined that many Bushwood drivers can't even tell they're riding in a diesel powered vehicle. In addition to fuel savings, diesels generally last longer than gasoline engines because of their heavy duty construction.

Another thing the Bushwood green crowd takes advantage of is the use of bio-diesel in diesel vehicles. Bio-diesel is made from vegetable oil – even recycled cooking oil from Bushwood restaurants. There is a lot of buzz about hybrid cars in Maryland. Look to diesel-electric hybrids in years to come to make a good idea even better.

Every year, manufacturers introduce new diesel models. Look for diesels in domestic light trucks, SUVs and passenger cars. Import brands have plans to bring more of their outstanding diesel engines to Maryland as well.

New Bushwood diesel owners need to know that properly maintaining a diesel engine is somewhat different than a gasoline engine. Fluid change intervals are different. Emissions control devices have to work harder to filter diesel fuel and to scrub the exhaust so you will need to pay attention to that. And the fuel injection system operates at much higher pressures than gas fuel injection systems, so it's important to keep your fuel system clean with a diesel.

The good news is that Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. in Bushwood is keeping up with the new diesel technology and will be able to advise you on maintaining your diesel.

When we tell you to look for more diesels on Bushwood streets, you won't be looking for smoky tail pipes as a clue. You also won't be listening for that familiar big rig rattle. And, you certainly won't be waiting for them at the stoplight, because modern diesels are as quick as their gasoline counterparts.

Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.
22829 colton point rd
Bushwood, Maryland 20618
301-769-2400

Bushwood Drivers Severe Service Maintenance Schedules

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Bushwood drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Bushwood drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Bushwood?
Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero Maryland temps?
Are most of your trips off-highway in Maryland?
Do you drive often in dusty Bushwood areas?
Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Bushwood?
Do you drive in very hot or very cold Maryland weather?

Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Bushwood on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Bushwood surface streets?

Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles/5,000 kilometers and the standard recommendation is 5,000 miles/8,000 kilometers. You know that you need to change the oil somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 miles/5,000 and 8,000 kilometers. Analyze your driving patterns and Bushwood weather and road conditions to determine which end of the spectrum you're closer to.

Why should Bushwood residents care about this? Normal condensation causes moisture accumulation in the engine oil. Short trips around Bushwood or winter driving means that the engine doesn't heat up enough for the moisture to evaporate. The water in the oil turns to oil sludge that clogs up your engine and doesn't let the oil protect it adequately. That's why Maryland residents need to change their oil more often – to clean the sludge out before it causes problems.

Carrying heavy loads (with or without a trailer) in Maryland summer weather causes your engine and transmission to run at higher temperatures and with more stress. The fluids will break down more quickly. Additives that clean and prevent corrosion will be depleted sooner. Air pollution and dust cause fluids to get dirty faster. Ditto for filters. All of these things can lead to premature wear and eventual repairs. If you want some expert advice, talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Hill's Auto Repair, Inc. service advisor. We can help you restore your vehicle to good working order and help you know the best schedule to follow.

Hill's Auto Repair, Inc.
301-769-2400
22829 colton point rd
Bushwood, Maryland 20618